US6063101A — Stent apparatus and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 139 words

A stent for disposition in a body passageway to allow delivery of a solution to the passageway walls, said stent comprising an elongate, hollow flexible wire, a distal end of which is formed into a generally gathered annular lattice with a central void, extending from a dispatch location of the wire, for disposition at a target location in the passageway, said lattice including perforations through which solution may flow from the hollow of the wire, said wire further including a discontinuity located generally at or near the dispatch location, means for mechanically stimulating the wire to cause detachment of the lattice at the discontinuity, an expandable balloon disposed in the void of the lattice which, when expanded, forces the lattice outwardly to contact the passageway walls at the target location, and means for selectively expanding and contracting the balloon.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 139 words

A stent for disposition in a body passageway to allow delivery of a solution to the passageway walls, said stent comprising an elongate, hollow flexible wire, a distal end of which is formed into a generally gathered annular lattice with a central void, extending from a dispatch location of the wire, for disposition at a target location in the passageway, said lattice including perforations through which solution may flow from the hollow of the wire, said wire further including a discontinuity located generally at or near the dispatch location, means for mechanically stimulating the wire to cause detachment of the lattice at the discontinuity, an expandable balloon disposed in the void of the lattice which, when expanded, forces the lattice outwardly to contact the passageway walls at the target location, and means for selectively expanding and contracting the balloon.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

A stent as in claim 1 wherein the wire is made of stainless steel.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

A stent as in claim 2 wherein the outside diameter of the wire is about 0.008 inches or less.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 20 words

A stent as in claim 1 wherein said lattice is formed generally of a zig-zag configuration circumferentially about the void.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 20 words

A stent as in claim 1 wherein said lattice is formed generally of a coil configuration circumferentially about the void.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 37 words

A stent as in claim 5 wherein said coil configuration comprises a length of wire alternately coiled about the void, approximately one turn in a first direction and then approximately another turn in the opposite direction, etc.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 37 words

A stent as in claim 1 further including means attachable to a proximal end of the wire for supplying a solution to the hollow of the wire for transport to and out the perforation in the lattice.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 20 words

A stent as in claim 1 wherein said perforations are formed in the wire to generally face the passageway walls.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 22 words

A stent as in claim 1 wherein said perforations are formed in the wire to generally face inwardly of the passageway walls.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 141 words

A stent for disposition in a duct to maintain the duct walls apart to allow the flow of fluid therethrough, said stent comprising an elongate flexible support wire formed into an annular lattice having a central void, for disposition at a target location in the duct, an elongate flexible connecting wire joined at a distal end to the annular lattice and having a discontinuity for severing when supplied with a mechanical perturbation signal, a balloon catheter having an expandable section disposable in the void of the annular lattice so that when the expandable section is expanded, it forces the annular lattice radially outwardly to contact and hold apart the duct walls, means for selectively expanding the expandable section of the balloon catheter, and means for supplying a mechanical perturbation signal to the discontinuity of the connecting wire to cause severance thereof.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 141 words

A stent for disposition in a duct to maintain the duct walls apart to allow the flow of fluid therethrough, said stent comprising an elongate flexible support wire formed into an annular lattice having a central void, for disposition at a target location in the duct, an elongate flexible connecting wire joined at a distal end to the annular lattice and having a discontinuity for severing when supplied with a mechanical perturbation signal, a balloon catheter having an expandable section disposable in the void of the annular lattice so that when the expandable section is expanded, it forces the annular lattice radially outwardly to contact and hold apart the duct walls, means for selectively expanding the expandable section of the balloon catheter, and means for supplying a mechanical perturbation signal to the discontinuity of the connecting wire to cause severance thereof.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 28 words

A stent as in claim 10 wherein the discontinuity comprises a narrowed portion of the wire, and wherein the perturbation signal supplying means comprises an ultrasonic signal generator.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 41 words

A stent as in claim 10 wherein the discontinuity comprises a portion of the wire made from a material different from the material of the rest of the wire, and wherein the perturbation signal supplying means comprises an ultrasonic signal generator.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 29 words

A stent as in claim 10 wherein the discontinuity comprises one or more cuts in the wire, and wherein the perturbation signal supplying means comprises an ultrasonic signal generator.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

A stent as in claim 10 wherein the discontinuity comprises a spot weld, and wherein the perturbation signal supplying means comprises an ultrasonic signal generator.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 74 words

A stent as in claim 10 wherein the support wire and connecting wire are tubular having central hollows which are in communication, wherein the lattice includes a plurality of openings through which medication may flow from the hollow of the support wire forming the lattice, said stent further including means for selectively supplying medication to the hollow of the connecting wire to flow to the hollow of the support wire and out the openings.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 18 words

A stent as in claim 15 wherein the openings are positioned to face generally outwardly of the lattice.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 28 words

A stent as in claim 10 wherein the wires are made of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, platinum, platinum alloys and nickel-titanium alloy.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 85 words

A stent system for disposition in a body duct to maintain the duct walls apart, said stent system comprising: a generally tubular-shaped stent for disposition at a target location in the duct, an elongate flexible connecting wire joined at a distal end to the stent for preventing unwanted migration of the stent, said wire including a discontinuity for severing when supplied with a mechanical perturbation signal, and means for supplying a mechanical perturbation signal to the discontinuity of the connecting wire to cause severance thereof.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 85 words

A stent system for disposition in a body duct to maintain the duct walls apart, said stent system comprising: a generally tubular-shaped stent for disposition at a target location in the duct, an elongate flexible connecting wire joined at a distal end to the stent for preventing unwanted migration of the stent, said wire including a discontinuity for severing when supplied with a mechanical perturbation signal, and means for supplying a mechanical perturbation signal to the discontinuity of the connecting wire to cause severance thereof.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

A stent system as in claim 18 further including means for selectively expanding the stent radially outwardly to contact and hold apart the duct walls.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 21 words

A stent system as in claim 18 wherein the stent comprises an elongate flexible support wire formed into an annular lattice.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 77 words

A stent system as in claim 18 wherein the support wire and connecting wire are tubular having central hollows which are in communication, wherein the lattice includes a plurality of openings through which the medication may flow from the hollow of the support wire forming the lattice, said stent system further including means for selectively supplying medication to the hollow of the connecting wire to flow to the hollow of the support wire and out the openings.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-05-16	2003-11-15	2004-05-16	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-05-16	2007-11-15	2008-05-16	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-05-16	2011-11-15	2012-05-16	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Stent apparatus and method

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